Call me lazy, but I'm a person who likes automatic cars. I don't want to have to think about changing gears while enjoying a drive. Same goes for bikes. I'd never purchased a adult bike before, having no desire to deal with 20 gears and having to change them. I had a "kids" bike, but alas I got too big for it and it couldn't support my weight. So I went for 5 years bikeless, but longing for the joy of peddling around when the AutoBike appeared on the scene.

When it first came out, I couldn't afford it with its nearly $400 price tag, but when I could, it was money well spent. The AutoBike features the one thing I'd been looking for in bikes, a completely automatic transmission. That's right, the gears automatically shift as needed.

For the curious, it basically works similar to an automatic car. When you speed up, it goes to a higher gear, when you slow down, it drops back down. The six gears that it shifts through covers the same range that a 20 speed bike does. Basically, it only uses those major speeds, not any of the lesser used ones, making it more efficient in the changing. I've had my AutoBike for two years now. The gears still work perfectly, the frame is sturdy and the seat is a comfortable ride. The only maintenance needed is replacing the brake pads, but thats because I ride them like crazy.

I've used my AutoBike primarily on pavements, both straight and hilly, and it does wonderfully on both. When going up a hill, you basically keep a steady speed and it adjust gears to compensate, which it did fairly well. It probably would have had better results if I wasn't so out of shape at the time that I couldn't do much for exertion. Heading down hill, if you don't have good control of a speeding bike, you'll be riding brakes like me, because the AutoBike loves to fly and can quickly work its way to the highest gear if you are on a good hill. Its tires are made for off-road as well, so it easily could be used on trails.

My AutoBike has also handled travel quite well, having been in storage for a month, then surviving a trip in a U-Haul from NC to Texas without so much as a scratch. It still works as well as it did the day I bought it back in 1996.

My only real complaint about the AutoBike is that it weights a good 37 lbs, which is considered heavy for a bike. Lifting it is definitely not a joy, and it would probably not be a good racing bike. Compared to the benefits though, its a small price to pay.

For accuracy, I have the Women's Classic AutoBike, which includes an on-board air pump and a set of allen and hex wrenches. Its pre-loaded with a good number of reflectors, and features front and rear brakes. I added on a U-Lock, of course. Because I am slightly shorter than the recommended 22" leg length, I had to take it to a bike shop to get the seat adjusted low enough for me to ride, but this was a very easy operation that literally just took a few seconds, and really doesn't indicate the bike quality. The only other repair came this year (2002) when I had to have the bike put in the shop because the nut on the front crankshaft had warn smooth. The repair shop fixed it no problem and she is as good as new.

I'd recommend this bike for anyone who is like me and who just wants to enjoy the biking, not the gear changing. It would also be a great first bike for anyone wanting to learn, or just wanting to pleasure ride. It would be ideal for a college student needing transportation on campus.

Update: The original seller of the AutoBike, CSA, went bankrupt. Seattle Traders used to market the bike, under the name EasyShift and offer support, but it has also now gone making the AutoBike a rare thing to find.

Alternatives: A new automatic bike, the LandRider, has recently hit the market. The LandRider is built on the AutoBike technology, proportedly with a better frame, higher quality components, and a higher price. I have not tried one myself so I can not say if it is a good option for those still wanting an AutoBike. There are also some other auto shifting bicycles available. Most folks consider those that have the Shimano Auto-D drivetrain, which is a computer operated system, for smoother shifting and the highest quality components.

Recommended: Yes